KATHMANDU, March 24: Spokesperson of the government Gokul Banskota has reiterated that the journalism that encourages violent activities does not meet the values of press freedom. “It’s the responsibility of journalism to speak against injustice. But, does it belongs to press freedom to argue for violence and claim violence as right,” he wondered.

Inaugurating the 35th session of the journalism training organized with the collaboration of Nepal Press Institute and Nepal Press Council here today, the Spokesperson said, “What’s this culture to announce banda and violent activities as right works from radios on the one hand and protest by the FNJ against the arrest of the person claiming such on the other?”

Indicating the Netra Bikram Chand Biplab-led groups, the Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Banskota, said dialogue could not be imagined from the bed made of guns. He asked the group, “First give up bombs, then join talks. It is possible then.” The government was ready to hold talks with Biplab group if it abandoned guns, he underscored.

He further showed concern why the government’s move to bring social networking sites under the tax system was negatively received. According to him, the media are now companies and they would be grown to industry, so it is good. “If the worker at the industry is not given wage, it deserves action. It is not good to advocate for press freedom to do wrong because the industry is shown to demand tax discount,” the Minister reminded the media houses and press freedom advocates.

Moreover, the Minister claimed that it is not press freedom to make the hue and cry while fearing oneself to speak the mind. Although media has the strength to guide society, people’s trust in media will erode when it loses integrity.

As the Minister stated, journalism cannot be a guiding pillar of society if it is done violating the integrity and standard and berating the country. Such journalism serves the example of mobocracy, he said, arguing that although freedom has no limit, integrity has. Freedom must not be soiled with anarchy, he underscored.

The government is seriously working to enforce the minimum wages for working journalists, ensure facilities for journalists and new laws for improvement in the communications sector.

Council Acting Chairperson Kishor Shrestha said growing complaints at the Council against media houses for violations of the code of conduct could be interpreted as an incidence of ‘abuse’ of freedom of the press. As he said, misconducts are seen on online news portals, but the existing Council’s act has not granted the right to take action against those media houses.

FNJ General Secretary Ramesh Bista advised the government to take under control any journalist if he/she is found involved in terrorist activities with evidence from outside, but not from media houses.

Administrative Court Chairperson Kashiraj Dahal viewed media freedom and discipline should be practiced simultaneously.

Senior journalist Gokul Prasad Pokhrel expressed his hope that training would play a role in the promotion of disciplined journalists. NPI Chairperson Neelkantha Upreti said the organization was working to further promote the field of Nepali journalism in cooperation with the government.

According to program coordinator Kapil Kafle, 25 persons were shortlisted for the 10-month training. RSS

KATHMANDU, June 4: Newly appointed Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Gokul Prasad Baskota, assumed office on Monday. He was promoted from the post of Minister of State (Communications and Information Technology) to the full minister on June 1.

Talking to media persons after taking charge of office at Singha Durbar, he directed the State-owned media houses to become tougher against those people and organizations not clearing advertisement tariff for years.

He assured of no compromises for good governance. He said he was not in favor of making media headlines by carrying out a surprise monitoring, adding that a technical group from the ministry will be assigned for such work. He promised that he would keep himself well updated about affairs concerned and no wrongdoers would be allowed walk free.”All are equal in the eyes of law.”

He expressed his concerns over problems in Nepal Telecom tower network connections in some areas of the Kathmandu Valley.

Secretary at the Ministry, Mahendra Man Gurung, and chiefs of other subordinate bodies welcomed him on the occasion. RSS

KATHMANDU, March 23: Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology, Gokul Prasad Baskota, has pledged to bring a new communications law on the basis National Mass Communications Policy.

In his address to an interaction on “radio policy and partnership with local levels” organised on the occasion of the 17th establishment day of Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (ACORAB) Nepal here today, he expressed hope that problems existing in the area of communications would be addressed with the introduction and implementation of the new communications law.

Highlighting the role and contribution of radio in making various movements for change successful and during crisis in the country, he said community radio stations helped make the rural people well-informed and promised to incorporate agenda of community radio development in the government upcoming policies and programs.

The government has a vision to take the country towards the path of economic, social and cultural development along with the enforcement of constitution, he added.

National Assembly vice-chair Shashikala Dahal applauded community radio stations for their effective presence during the 2015 April Earthquake.

Former minister Gangadhar Tuladhar and incumbent House of Representatives member Yagyaraj Sunar were of the view of regulating mass media houses instead of controlling them.

ACORAB Nepal chair Subash Khatiwada demanded the government to ensure renew of radio stations soon.

The ACORAB Nepal is an umbrella organization of 315 radio stations operational across the nation. RSS

KAVREPALANCHOWK, Dec 11: Left alliance candidates have secured victory in all two House of Representative constituencies and four Province Assemblies in Kavrepalanchowk district.

CPN (Maoist Center)’s Ganga Bahadur Tamang secured his seat in House of Representatives from Kavre constituency-1 while CPN-UML’s Gokul Prasad Baskota has been elected as a House of Representative member from Kavre constituency-2.

Tamang defeated Nepali Congress candidate Tirtha Bahadur Lama securing 43,631 votes. Lama got 39,605 votes.

Likewise, in constituency-2, Baskota received 54,427 votes to defeat his rival from Nepali Congress Madhu Prasad Acharya who obtained 36,579 votes.

Similarly in Province Assembly elections, Maoist Center’s Ratna Prasad Dhakal and UML’s Chandra Bahadur Lamal secured victory in Province Assemblies ‘A’ and ‘B’ of Kavre-1 respectively. Dhakal obtained 23,518 votes to defeat his contender Chandra Bahadur Tamang of Nepali Congress who received 15, 856 votes. In Province Assembly ‘B’, UML’s Lama defeated Nepali Congress candidate Ganesh Lama securing 24,447 votes. Ganesh obtained 20,270 votes.

In Kavre-2 Province Assemblies ‘A’ and ‘B’, UML’s Laxman Lamsal and Basundhara Humagain secured victory. Lamasal received 27,621 votes to defeat his opponent from Nepali Congress Sundar Mani Acharya who got 16,589 votes. Also, Humagain scored 28,677 votes whereas his opponent Kanchan Chandre Bade of Nepali Congress got 21,780 votes.